CHAPTER XXVI. 



THE CHOLERA PREDESTINATION REMEDIES ESCAPE OF DRUNKARDS THE 

 PEST IN GOTHENBURG THE INFIRMARY SYMPTOMS FLIES TREAT- 

 MENT EFFECTS OF ELECTRICITY WONDERFUL RECOVERY DEPLORABLE 

 STATE OF THE TOWN WANT OF COFFINS PRAISEWORTHY CONDUCT 

 OF THE POORER CLASSES CONTAGIOUS OR NOT? FEAR A PREDISPOSING 

 CAUSE SELF-POSSESSION A PRESERVATIVE PHENOMENA THE FACULTY. 



LATE in the summer of 1834, during my residence at 

 Ronnum, reports were abroad that the Asiatic cholera, after 

 committing terrible destruction in various parts of Europe, 

 had at length reached Gothenburg ; and these rumours 

 proved but too true, for in a short time the disease 

 raged with fearful virulence in that devoted town. 



Some days subsequently it made its appearance in Weners- 

 borg, where also it committed much havoc, especially amongst 

 the lower classes ; for out of a population of about two 

 thousand, near two hundred perished. 



Within a week afterwards the pestilence broke out in the 

 cottages about Ronnum. Many individuals were seized, 

 nearly the half of whom were carried off; sickness and 

 death, indeed, were rife within a few paces of my own door ; 

 one family, consisting of five individuals, perished altogether ; 



